Private Parking Code of Practice Consultation

Topic of this consultation

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 (the Act) requires the Secretary of State to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. The government code of practice must contain guidance that promotes good practice in the operation and management of private parking facilities, and guidance about appeals against private parking charges imposed by, or on behalf of, persons providing private parking facilities. This consultation is pursuant to section 2 of the Act and seeks views on proposed measures aimed at raising standards in the private parking industry before preparing a new government Code of Practice (the Code).  

Scope of the consultation

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is setting out its proposals and seeking views for raising standards across the private parking industry before preparing the Code, and an accompanying compliance framework for private parking operators.

This is a public consultation and is open to everyone to respond to. Section 2 of the Act requires the Secretary of State to consult persons who represent the interests of those who provide, operate or manage private car parking facilities and those who use or may use them, and such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.  Views are especially invited from carpark users, those who represent the interests of motorists, the parking industry, landowners, and businesses involved in debt recovery to help inform decision making. However, views are welcome from anyone else who has an interest in private parking.

Geographical Scope

The proposals in this consultation relate to England, Scotland and Wales.

Option Assessment and Impact Assessment

In preparing for this consultation, MHCLG has followed the Better Regulation Framework and Green Book principles and has produced an options assessment which was submitted to the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). As part of this government’s commitment to transparency, the options assessment has been published alongside this consultation. A small amount of information in the options assessment has been redacted due to commercial sensitivity.

MHCLG has feedback from the RPC, received on 5 June, that the options assessment is Fit for Purpose. This means that MHCLG has provided sufficient evidence to justify consultation on options for raising standards and to progress to seek collective agreement, consult, and to develop a Regulatory Impact Assessment. The RPC feedback provided a small number of areas for further consideration in the final impact assessment, and MHCLG will include these at that stage. The final impact assessment will be published on GOV.UK alongside the Code when it is laid before Parliament.

Thank you for taking time to submit a response. Please complete the free text boxes to questions as fully as possible where relevant, as your views will help to inform decision making.